July 30th, 2009 | 
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Traveling is such an enjoyable experience that we wish we could do it all the time. Unfortunately most of us only get a couple weeks a year (if we’re lucky) to take our vacations.
In order to ensure that those trips are the very best and everything we expect (unlike the many travel movies where there are nightmares around every corner), we want to provide our best vacation tips so your vacations are very memorable – in a good way of course.
Discount Florida Vacations Best Vacation Tips (these are in no particular order):
1. Plan early and book when a good deal fits your budget or smells right. There are more and more travel companies popping up everyday. Why? Because as the baby boomer generation gets older and once they boot their children out of the house, they are traveling more and more. Good deals are easy to find and there are many reputable companies that offer great rates and fares.
2. Know about your destination and the best times to travel. Remember when Chevy Chase takes the whole family cross country only to find out their favorite fun park is closed? Don’t let that happen to you. Know what is going on and when the best times to travel are.
For example, most people know that March and April tend to be spring break times. Well, if you take your little ones to Panama City Florida during these months, chances are you are going to run into wild, college kids. Bummer for your children and you.
3. Take care of things at home. Making sure the family pet or the house is taken care of is important. You don’t want to come home to a disaster after you’ve had a wonderful vacation.
4. Budget wisely. Even if you don’t have a budget it is smart to take care of your money. Make sure that if the worst happened you still have funds to fall back on. If you are on a budget be smart and enjoy doing things on vacation that aren’t going to have you taking out a 2nd mortgage just to pay for everything.
5. Don’t forget your important documents. There is nothing more frustrating than forgetting something when you are hundreds or thousands of miles from home.
6. Plan things to do ahead of time. Again, get to know your area of choice to determine how
close you are to various activities and restaurants. There is nothing like landing a great deal on a hotel only to find out it is miles from anything or in a location that is not suitable for a great vacation.
For example, a hotel that is so far away from the beach you need to catch a plane just to get there. Also, you want to make sure that everyone traveling with you will have fun! Again, in Vegas Vacation when the kids are too young to gamble, they have to come up with creative ways to have a good time (hence Nick Popagorgio).
7. Sign up for online newsletters and keep your ear to the ground about your destination of choice.
8. Read the fine print. This can really bite you in the behind on certain things like rentals and such.
9. Utilize a checklist and make sure everything is in order before and during the trip. From booking to packing to check in to relaxation, don’t forget anything.
10. Have fun and enjoy yourself. No matter what type of vacation you are going on, the goal is to not want to come back.
Those are our best vacation tips and we live by them each time we take a vacation. Hope you will too because we know your trip will be much more pleasurable.
Help answer the question about vacation tips
Does anyone have any all inclusive vacation tips or ideas?My wife and I are planning to go on an all inclusive vacation, but can't decide where to go or who to go through. We have looked at Sandals, Apple Vacations, and Cruise lines but can't decide who will provide the best vacation at the most reasonable price. Can anyone help with suggestions? Thanks.
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This is great info and exactly what I needed as I’m going to Italy in a couple of weeks – That means pizza, pasta, and icecream, all of which can promote weight gain! Another way I’ve found to prepare for possible weight gain when I go abroad is to lose as much weight as possible before the leaving day. That way, I’ll just be gaining back what I lost and not putting on more. I’ve lost 3 and a half lbs which is the maximum I recommend anyone losing a week, and plan to continue on holiday.
Congratulations on losing the 20 pounds! You can go on vacation, enjoy yourself, and still not gain weight. Just be aware of what you are eating. Allow yourself to indulge a little bit, but keep the portions small. Most important is to be very active. Walk a lot or play games with friends or family like basketball or badminton, etc. Have fun!
Well I'm not really good with calories. I'll admit that.
But to avoid weight gain on vacation is to watch what you eat. Like if it's something bad, don't eat it. But if you really want it, keep it to a really low portion. Just limit what you eat. You can have like everything you eat but cut it way down if you are having a lot of other things. Hope that wasn't confusing.
Just limit yourself and what for the bad foods. That's all you need to know instead of sitting there calculating all the calories.
A healthy mind in a healthy body!
JUST BE HAPPY and forget about all this weight-beauty scam. We must be smarter than that.
yup usually i do gain weight during holidays but i started eating healthy before the holidays so last christmas 08 i didn’t gain any weight actually i lost some:)
when your on vacation there so many good snacks and food to eat. you think im on vacation its alright but then you loose tract of it all.
the xmas holidayz i gain a bit lol
holidays, yes.
but i try to exercise as i usually do and not indulge too much.
vacation, yes & no. there was one time i gained a few lbs., but i indulged a LOT and didnt exercise at all. it came off within a couple days (probably just water weight lol). on other vacations i’ve actually lose a few. go figure.
Its very difficult to eat healthy at restaurants and the first thing that most people forget is that restaurants are businesses and they don't care at all about your health. You have to take control (and thats hard).
Of course its all easier if you add lots of exercise (even just walking around site seeing all day – that counts, and swimming counts double). If you stay active you will have more calories to play with. If you are not active then you have to limit your intake.
Stay away from deep fried foods and high fat foods. Its hard to get specific because its all about what you put on it. A piece of bread is no problem – smothered in butter will make you fat. Even veggies get smothered in butter at some restaurants making even veggies fattening. Salads are often high calorie because of the dressings and add-ons.
Hamburgers can be actually fairly healthy and while potatoes are good for you, if you deep fry them you are adding thousands of unneccessary calories. Its not the name of the dish that makes it healthy or not its what goes in it!
YES.
Now get back with the program so you can finish!!
[ I lost 45 pounds this year, but still have more to loose. Did it with a combo of diet and exercise ]
Last time I went to Mexico (Ixtapa-Zihuatamejo which is a tourist coast) I was around 125lbs I ATE EVERYTHING my grandma made and I was there for 2 weeks. I did the whole tourist thing tho. We walked a lot and snorkled, parasailed, went swimming, went dancing and played a lot of soccer. I didnt gain 1 lbs. i think it had to do with the fact that I was so active. If you plan to keep active I wouldnt worry about it either. Also consider where you are going. When ever I go to Mexico I get sick for the first 2 days or so because the food is just fresher and stuff so i usually lose a lb or so and I sure do make up for it the rest of the vaycay. Dont get too crazy and over eat and make sure you dont deprive yourself cuz whats a vacation with all the yummy food. We are going to Colombia in June and I looved their food but a lot of it is deep fried like the yucca, plantain, and empanadas. Oh well I guess I will be walking more instead of taking the taxi.
Have fun.
Vacation isnt usually a problem-however, the holidays…from October to January is tough for me. Its the type of food not usually served at meals for celebration and the cold weather makes me not want to get out and exercise.
Yea it should come off right away bc you wont be eating like that while ur home from vacation
I usually do but last time I was super careful. I brought oat bran with me and made sure I supplemented most of my meals with it. I was also very stringent about portion sizes. I still came back bloated, but I definitely did not gain weight.
Every holiday easter and christmas i put on weight!!
Thanks Natalie, Great video. You look fabulous!
avoid eating too many fatty foods. i mean if ur staying w/ someone, eat what they give u, breakfast, lunch and dinner. nothing else. if they offer cake and sweets too much, avoid it.
you seem underweight. If you are going on vacation, the best advice i can give you is to HAVE FUN and eat the best and tastiest foods while you are at it. With an active lifestyle, your not going to add or lose too much weight.